Life preserver



1933- J. CATARAU 1,921,659

LIFE PRESERVER Filed Oct. 31, 1952 Patented Aug. 8, 1933 i UNITED! S ATES 1 PATENT OFFICE i w a '1 s a.

LVIFEPRESERVER Jules cam, Seattle. Wash. applicatio 0ctober 31, 1932. Serial No. 640,509

4 Claims.

life preserver with means which will permit its instantaneous fastening tothe body of a person through a single jerk-motion and regardless of the size and shape of the persons body.

A further object of the invention is to contrive the buoyant envelope of the life preserver so that at any time in water it will bring and hold the experimenting person in a safe :erect position with a slight inclination backward. A still further aim is to arrange the buoyant envelope and the fastening means of the life preserver so that in order to avoid confusion and loss of time in reflections the'life preserver may be worn either side next to the body and carried indefinitely in emergency without creating an incongruity in the wearers toilet.

In the drawing accompanying this application the Figure 1 illustrates'the elevationfof a life preserver contrived in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 illustrates said life preserver adjusted on the body of a person.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the one-way engaging snap devised as the most simple, safe, and quick fastening means for the life preserver.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawing. An envelope endued with the property of buoyancy is contrived to en circle the body of a person on and above the waist line so that at the armpits in front said envelope begins to curve sharply upward and terminates over the chest with two erect extensions.

Said extentions are purposed to augment the buoyancy of the life preserver in front and thereby to bring and hold the body of a person-when in water-in a safe erect position with a slight inclination backward.

If the life preserver is endued with the prop erty of buoyancy through inflation, internal longitudinal partitions divide said envelope into two, or more, distinct compartments, subjacent 1, and superjacent 2, each of which retains the specific shape of the envelope and inflates through a sep- 7 arate connection 3' with the means for inflation.

The specified division of, the envelope into several longitudinal compartments is essentialto lessen the danger occurring from thwulnerabil ity of any such envelope and from'the possible" imperfection in the means for inflation, especial-w ly when a self-inflating device isused.

For adjustment of the life preserver onthe body of a person the envelope is provided with several safety agraffes 4, or other means-enabling the life preserver to ,be attached tothe inner side i of any piece of wearing apparel to be worn con- Said straps are intended tobe worn about the neck in a yoke-like manner, intersecting behind the neck and descending over the chestthrough two frames 6 respectively, said frames secured to the envelope in front.

'Ihe' straps are provided each'with a one-way engaging snap 9, said snap consisting of a resilient frame formed with lateral shoulder-like projections 10 which permit the snap to pass freely through the frame 6 forward only (Fig 3) and conflict with the said frame 6 (Fig. 4) at the-backward motion of the strap,ther'eby preventing es- ,cape of the strapfrom its fast-holding positions In order to cope with variation in the size of persons the snap 9 is furnished in series for each strap. 7'

The active (loose) ends of the straps are each retained slidably by the rings 7 respectively, said rings,- or the like, being secured tothe envelope infront. l

The tips of said loose ends are each'provided with a stopper 8, in order to prevent the elusion of said ends out of hands reach and also to facilitate their handling when the life preserver happens to-be worn with the straps next to the body. J v

Such a combination with the straps facilitates almost instantaneous operation necessary in great emergency for fastening of any life preserver and also permits the wearing of the life preserver concealed underneath any wearing apparel, leaving optional'the use of the agraffes.

The loose ends ofthe straps may be tied together in front below the rings '7, though this is not indispensable for the successful performance of the life preserver. I

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A life preserver, consisting of an envelope 'enduedwith the propertyfof buoyancy and adapted to encircle the body of a person on'and above 1 the :waist line,-- with a" combination of said. envelope and two straps integrated eachby one end to the said envelope in-front'and intended to'be worn slidably about the neck in a yoke-like mana ner ascending each over. a shoulder, intersecting behind the opposite shoulder towardthe front; to be fastened to the envelope in front. I q

neck'and descending each'overthe I 2. In a life preserver, consisting of an envelope endued with the property of buoyancy and adapted to encircle the body of a person on and above the waist line, the combination of said en velope and a strap secured by one end to a convenient part of the envelope, and a ring like member, said ring like member being secured to the envelope in front; said strap having a series of one-way engaging snaps each of which consists of a resilientframe formed with laterally projecting shoulders to co-act with the said ring like member, essentially as and for, the purposes set forth. I

3. A life preserver, consisting of an envelope endued with the property of buoyancy and adapted-to encircle the body of a person on and above the Waist line, with a combination of said envelope and two straps. secured each by one end to the said envelope in front and intended "to be worn about the neck in a yoke-like manner, as-

' cending each over a shoulder, intersecting behind hind the neck, descending each over the opposite shoulder toward the front, and slidably retained there each by a ring like member, said ring secured tothe envelope in front, said straps having their loose ends provided each with a stopper as means to prevent the elusion of said ends so as to have them always within the arm-reach.

1 J ULES' CATARAU. 

